Machine for operating upon fruits and vegetables



Dec. 12, 1933. J. H. STANSBURY MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON FRUITS ANDVEGETABLES M M w W, 5 M/ 9 MM. w MY? Dec. 12, 1933; J. H. STANSBURY1,938,613

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Filed July 29, '1929 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 12, 1933. J. H. STANSBURY MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPONFRUITS AND VEGETABLES Filed July 29, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 1933- J. H.STANSBURY 1,938,613"

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Filed July 29. 1929 5Sheets-Sheet 4 W as 4 W k l I 8 Mg: D gnw/wtor abtmovs Dec. 1.2, 1933.J. H. STANSBURY MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FiledJuly 29, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 gwuowtoz O 5% 5km 750,

Patented Dec. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES NIACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON FRUITSAND VEGETABLES John Herbert Stansbury, Fruitland, Md, assignmof one-halfto Ralph 0. Dulany, Fruitland, Md. I

Application July 29, 1929. Serial No. 381,809

17 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for operating upon small fruits andvegetables, for removing therefrom stems, caps and the like.

More particularly, the present invention is in the nature of animprovement upon and further development of the machine disclosed in mypr or copending application, Serial No. 208,- 362, filed July 25, 1927.

VVhiie, as set forth in said prior application, the invention ispeculiarly applicable to the stemming and capping of strawberries, theprinciples employed are also well adapted for other purposes, as forexample, the snipping of string beans.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide an improvedpinching mechanism, to provide improved means for driving and adjustingthe conveyor belts, improved means for cleaning the pinching mechanism,and generally to improve, simplify and commercialize the det "'ls ofconstruction.

In 0' that the invention may be readily understood, reference is had tothe accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and inwhich:-

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the receiving end of my improvedmachine, parts being in section substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure5;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the delivery end of the machine, partsbeing omitted for the sake of clearness;

Figures 3 and 4 together constitute a side elevation of the completemachine, the central portion being broken away, and some parts beingomitted and other parts shown in an abnormal position for the sake ofclearness of illustration;

Figure 5 is a partial plan view, showing the receiving end of themachine, parts being omitted and parts being shown in an abnormalposition, for the sake of clearness; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse section on an enlarged scale,through the roller and apron constituting the pinching mechanism, andillustrating the manner in which such mechanism operates upon astrawberry.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the present machine comprises twoend plates or castings 1 and 2, of the shape shown in Figures 1 and 2.These end plates are tied together at the bottom by tie rods 3, providedwith nuts 3 and surrounded by tubular spacing sleeves 4, as clearlyshown in Figures 1 to 4. The end plates are fastened together at the topby means of a pair of angle irons 5 and 6, secured to each of the endplates by means of screws 7. Thus, a rigid frame is provided.

Power is supplied to the machine by means of a main shaft 8, on which ismounted for free rotation a pair of rigidly connected driving sprockets9 (see Figure 5). The outer end of the hub of these driving sprocketscarries a clutch member 10, arranged to cooperate with a complementaryclutch member 11, slidable on a key 12, carried by the shaft 8, andadapted to be moved longitudinally of the shaft by means of a bifurcatedlever (not shown) working in a groove 13, in a well known manner. Theshaft 8 extends entirely through the machine from one end to the other,and is journalled in the end plates 1 and 2.

Adjacent and parallel with the shaft 8 is a second shaft 14, alsoextending through the machine and journalled in the end plates.

To the shafts 8 and 14, adjacent the driving end of the machine, aresecured pinions 15 and 16, respectively, which pinions mesh with eachother and with large gears 17 and 18,- secured to the ends of shafts 19and 20, journalled in the end frames and extending through the machine.

Just inside the end plate 1, these shafts 19 and 20 carry worm gears 21and 22, and with these worm gears mesh worms 23 and 24, secured toshafts 25 and 26, journalled in U- shaped brackets 27 and 28. Thesebrackets are themselves pivotally mounted about the shafts 19 and 20,and are supported and angularly adjusted by means of shafts 29 and 30,journalled at their lower ends in blocks 31 and 32, pivotally secured tothe end plate 1, at 33 and 34. The upper ends of these shafts 29 and 30are threaded and engaged in threaded blocks 35, 36, pivotally secured tothe brackets 2'7 and 28. Each shaft 29 and 30 is provided at its upperend with a hand wheel 37 or the like, by means of which it may beturned.

At the other end of the machine, as shown in Figure 2, similar swingingbrackets 27 are provided, these brackets being similarly'adjustable bymeans of shafts such as 29' journalled in a block 31 and provided with ahand wheel 3'7. By reference to Figure 2, the method in which thesebrackets are pivotally mounted on the shafts 19 and 20 can be clearlyseen, this being accomplished by means of a divided journal bearing.

Rigidly secured to each of the shafts 25, 26, 25 and 26, at each end ofthe machine, is a flanged pulley 38. For reasons which will hereinafterappear, the shafts at one end of the machine, as for example the shafts25' and 26 are mounted in adjustable bearings. This is illustrated inFigures 2 and 3, in which each end of each of these shafts is shown asjournalled in a bearing block 39, slidable between the legs of aU-shaped bracket 40, having an end plate 41, and adjustable within thisbracket by means of an adjusting screw 42, set into the block 39 at oneend, passing freely through an opening in the plate 41, provid d with anut 43, bearing against the outside of such plate.

It may be explained here that in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the angularlyadjustable brackets 27 and 28, carrying the shafts such as 25 and 26,are shown, for the sake of clearness, in a horizontal position, in orderto illustrate the adjusting mechanism just described, and for otherreasons. It will of course be understood that in actual practice, thesebrackets occupy inclined or angular positions, as illustrated in Figures1 and 2.

Passing around the pair of pulleys 38 at each side of the machine, is anendless conveyer belt 44, designed to cooperate with the pinchingmechanism hereinafter described, and it will now be obvious that thepurpose of the adjustable bearings, such as shown at 39 in Figure 3, isto provide means for varying the tension on this belt.

In order to support the belt and prevent it from sagging between thepulleys 38, I provide supporting or guiding means consisting of a pairof arms 45, secured to each bracket, such has 27 and 28, and bridged byone or more cross pieces 46, to which are secured a pair oflongitudinally extending strips or slats 47, (see particularly Figure 5.These supporting slats are omitted from Figures 3 and 4, in order toavoid confusion) Also secured to the shafts 8 and 14, just outside ofthe end plate 1, are sprockets 48 and 49, over which run sprocket chains50 and 51, engaging another pair of sprockets 52 and 53, secured to theends of shafts 54 and 55. On these shafts 54 and 55 are mounted thepinching rollers 56, hereinafter more fully described.

Each shaft 54 and 55 is mounted in a series of spaced bearings 57,secured to a supporting bar 58, this bar being itself adjustablyattached to the angle iron 5 or 6, by means of a set screw or bolt 59,working through a slot at each end of the bar. In order to furtherregulate and adjust the exact position of this bar 58, it carries ateach end a pair of set screws 61, which bear against the angle iron andwhich are provided with lock nuts 62.

In order to prevent the supporting bar 58 and roller 56 from bendingupwardly when in operation, means are provided for holding it rigidly inexact alignment, as well as for adjusting it upwardly or downwardly,which means comprises a plurality of screws 63, having a threadedengagement with the angle iron 5 or 6, and bearing at their ends againstthe upper edge of the bar 58. These screws 63 have permanently fastenedthereto at their upper ends wing nuts 64, by which they may be turned,and they are also provided with lock nuts 65, by which they may besecuzed in adjusted position. It will be apparent that by loosening thebolts 59, the bar 58 may be adjusted vertically, as required.

Immediately beneath and adjacent the roller 56 is mounted a parallelshaft 66, as indicated in Figures 2, 3 and 4, and as shown in detail inFigure 6. This shaft 66 is supported at intervals throughout its lengthin bearing blocks 68 of the oilless type, engaging only the under side fsaid shaft. The shaft is held against endwise movement by stops 67adjacent each end thereof, (see Figures 3 and 4).

fhe bearing blocks 68 are supported at the upper edge of a bar or beam69, itself adjustably secured at each end to the edge of the end plates1 and 2, by means of bolts 73, working through slots 74, in the bar. Thebar may be vertically adjusted, when the bolts 73 are loosened, by meansof adjusting screws threaded through lugs 71, on the end pieces andbearing against the lower edge of the bar or beam 69. 's 76 are providedwith lock nuts 72, for

them in adjusted position.

pieces of the machine, I have found it desirable to support the beam orbar 69 intermediate its ends, in order to prevent deflection thereof.This I accomplish by means of hooks or hangers 75, (see Fig. 2) havingat their upper ends threaded shanks 76, passing freely through a crosspiece 78, resting on the angle irons 5 and 6, the hooks or hangers beingsupported on this cross piece by means of nuts 77, (these hangers do notappear in Figures 3 and 4, because of the fact that the middle portionof the machine is broken away in these views).

Mounted on the shafts 19 and 20, between the end pieces 1 and 2, arerolls 79, having at each end, and at a plurality of points intermediatetheir ends, radially extending flanges 80, as clearly shown in Figures 3and 4.

Passing around these rolls 79 and the corresponding shaft 66, at eachside of the machine, are endless flexible aprons 81, made in sections ofsuch length as to it between the said flanges 80 and guided by clips 81.These aprons 81 cooperate with the rollers 56 and constitute the otherelement of the pinching mechanism. The shaft 66 being arranged in suchproximity to the roller 56 that the roller and apron form betweenthemselves a bite. As shown in Figure 6, the flexibl apron 81 ispreferably provided with a corrugated outer surface, and mayconveniently be made of rubber or the like, while the roller 56 ispreferably fluted or provided with longitudinally extending teeth orribs. These ribs or flutes cooperating with the corrugated surface ofthe apron as it passes over the shaft 66 produce a highly efficientpinch ng action, which is well adapted to engage and remove stems, capsand tips from berries and other vegetables.

As also shown in Figure 6, the conveyor belt 44 is disposed closelyadjacent the upwardly moving run of the apron 81, with the lower edge ofthe belt 44 slightly below the shaft 66, the belt 44 being inclined asshown. l'hus, the belt and apron form a trough along which the berri s,such as shown at :c or other articles to be operated upon, travel. Theupward movement of the apron tends to lift or tumble the berries orother articles so as to present them properly to the pinching action ofthe bite between the roller and apron, and in this way, the stems, caps,etc. are effectively removed.

By reference to Figures 1 and 2, it will be apparent that by turning theadjusting shafts such as 29 and 30, the angle of the conveyor belts 44may be varied as desired, and also the distance of such belts from theapron and roller may beadjusted. Furthermore, owing to the fact thatthere are separate adjusting shafts at each end of the machine, it isapparent that the two ends of the conveyor belt may be independently.adjusted, thus setting the belt at a distance from the apron whichincreases progressively from one end of the machine to the other, thuscausing fruit of different sizes to be brought into the bite of theroller and apron at different points in its travel aiong the belt.

At the opposite end of the machine from that shown in Figure 5, theshafts 8 and 14 carry sprockets 82, over which run chains 83, drivingsprockets 84 on a pair of shafts 85 journalled in the end plates of themachine. These shafts 85 carry rotary brushes 86 of such size as toengage and sweep against the surface of the rollers 56 and apron 81 toclean the same. It will be particularly noted, by reference to Figures3, 4 and 5, that the bristles in these brushes 86 re set in spiral rowsso that as the brushes turn, the bristles are brought into engagementwith successive portions of the roller and apron throughout theirlength.

In order to clean the brushes themselves, I preferably provide scraperplates 8'7. These may be secured by screws 89 and slots 88, (see Figure5) to an angular supporting bar 90 having upturned end portions 91secured to the end plates 1 and 2 of the machine by bolts 92, working inslots 93, (see Figure 2). By virtue of these slots, it obvious that thesupporting bar 90 can be raised or lowered in order to properly positionthe scrapers.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that I preferably provide idlersprockets 94 engaging the sprocket chains so and 51, these sprocketsbeing journalled in brackets 95 secured to the end plate of the machineby means of bolts 97 working in slots 96, and it will be obvious that byloosening these bolts and moving the sprockets 94, the sprocket chains50 and 51 may be tightened, as desired.

Similarly, as shown in Figure 2, I have provided idler sprockets 98 atthe other end of the machinaengaging the chains 83, such sprockets beingcarried by brackets 99 secured to the end plate of the machine, by bolts100, working'in slots 101, whereby they may be adjusted.

As shown in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 4, the fruit or vegetables tobe operated upon are fed to the machine through chutes or spouts 102,these chutes having delivery nozzles so arranged as to deliver thearticles into the troughs formed between the conveyer belts 44 and thevaprons 81 at one end of the machine. The berries or other articles thenare carried along this trough by the travelling conveyer belt, and arebrought into contact with the pinching mechanism, as they move along,and they are finally discharged from the delivery end of the machine,shown in Figure 2, a suitable trough or spout being arranged to causethem to fall clear of the mechanism. This spout, however, is omittedfrom the drawings, for the sake of clearness.

The feeding mechanism of which the chutes 102 form a part may be of anysuitable character but preferably is of the nature disclosed in mycopending application filed of even date herewith.

The purpose of providing the machine with a double driving sprocket 9,as shown in Figure 5, will also be clear when considered in connectionwith the above mentioned copending application. As shown in saidapplication, it is proposed to drive a series of machines from a singlesource of power and the double sprocket is for the purpose oftransmitting power from one machine to the next.

What I claim is:

. In a machine of the class described, an endless flexible apron, meansfor supporting and driving the same in a vertical plane with one runmoving upwardly, a traveling support extending transversely of andadjacent said upwardly moving run, a pinch ng roller. in co-operativerelation with said apron, and means for rotating said roller.

2. In a machine of the class described, a horizontal shaft, an endlessflexible apron passing over said shaft, a roller mounted above andparallel with said shaft, the surfaces of said apron and roller beingdisposed in pinching relation, and a traveling support extendinglongitudinally of and below said shaft and adjacent said apron.

3. In a machine of the class described, a pair of substantiallyhorizontal shafts, mounted close together one above the other, a rollercarried by said upper shaft, an endless flexible apron passing aroundsaid lower shaft, means for causing said apron to travel over saidshaft, and means for causing articles to be operated upon to travelhorizontally along the upwardly moving side of said apron adjacent saidlower shaft.

4. In a machine of the class described,'a horizontal roller, a shaftparallel with and below said roller, a driving roll, an endless flexibleapron passing around said shaft and driving roll, said roller and apronbeing arranged closely adjacent each other so as to form a bite betweenthem at the side, means for rotating said roller, and moving means forcausing articles to be operated upon to travel along the bite of saidroller and apron.

5. In a machine of the class described, a fluted roller and atransversely corrugated endless flexible apron mounted closely adjacenteach other so as to form a bite between them, means for rotating saidroller and causing said apron to travel, and means independent of saidroller and apron for causing articles to be operated '7. In a machine ofthe class described, the

and means for varying both the angle of inclination of said belt and itsdistance from said pinching mechanism. 7

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with pinchingmechanism, including a horizontal roller, of conveying mechanism mountedat one side of and adjacent said roller and comprising a transverselyinclined traveling belt extending longitudinally of said roller, pulleysover which said belt travels, swinging brackets in which said pulleysare supported and means for driving one of said pulleys.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with pinchingmechanism, including a horizontal roler, of conveying mechanism,

mounted at one side of and adjacent said roller and comprising atransversely inclined traveling belt extending longitudinally of saidroller, pulleys over which said belt travels, swinging brackets in wh'chsaid pulleys are supported, means for adjusting said brackets on theirivots, and means for driving one of said pulleys.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with pinchingmechanism comprising a horizontal roller and an endless flexible apronarranged in cooperative relation the a with, of conveyer mechanismCOll'l rising a traveling belt extending longitudinally of said rollerand mounted adjacent to and at an angle to said apron so as toconstitute therewith a trough along which move the articles to beoperated upon.

12. In a machine of the class described, pinching mechanism comprisingan endless flexible apron, and a cooperating element, means forsupporting and driving apron so that one run moves upwardly toward saidelement, and a conveyer mounted adjacent said upwardly moving run andtraveling in a direction at right angles to the movement of said apron.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with pinchingmechanism. comprising a horizontal roller and an endless flexible apronarranged to form bite between them, of a conveyer extending longitudi11y of said roller at one side thereof, and a rotary brush extendinglongitudinally of said roller at the other side thereof and arranged toengage both said roller and apron to clean the same.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination with pinchingmechanism including a substantially ho izontal roller, of conveyingmechanism mounted at one side of and adjacent roller and comprising atransversely inclined flexible travelling T t extending longitudinally isaid roller, and a Llgi j supportirr strip subtantialiy coextensive withand underlying the part of said belt adjacent said roller.

15. In a machine of the class described, a pair substantially horizontalrolling elements witltheir surfaces close together and other so that thebite is driving said rolling eleestending longitudinally of mounteddisposed one above the at the siie, means for ments, a conveyor of andadjacent said bite, and serving to carry the along the same, and asupporting strip extending beneath and lengthwise of the belt andserving to hold the same up to said bite.

15. In a machine of the class described, pinchrising a roller and meansdl flexible apron comections disposed side by orting said apron closelyso as to form a bite between roller y having a series dial guide flangesbetween which s and. means for causing be operated upon to travel alongsaid spaced r id apron secti times to -te.

a to JOHN T'EPUBERT STANSBURY.

be operated upon.

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